Staff Writer
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged Zimbabwe’s youth to embrace production, innovation, discipline and self-reliance as the country seeks to build a stronger, modernised and prosperous economy under Vision 2030.
Addressing thousands of young people at the Munhumutapa Day commemorations in Mashonaland Central Province on Tuesday, President Mnangagwa said the large turnout demonstrated the commitment of young Zimbabweans to the country’s development agenda.
“It is my honour and privilege to address this gathering of the young people of our motherland, Zimbabwe, as we commemorate the Munhumutapa Day,” President Mnangagwa said.
He said the celebrations demonstrated that young people were united, patriotic and determined to contribute towards building Zimbabwe.
“The huge attendance and jubilant atmosphere I have witnessed, shows that you, the youth of our colossal revolutionary mass Party, ZANU PF, are united, patriotic and determined to build our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe, brick by brick and stone upon stone, towards Vision 2030,” he said.
The celebrations were held under the theme, “Honouring the past, empowering the present and securing Zimbabwe’s future”, which the President said should inspire citizens, particularly young people, to preserve the country’s liberation history while working towards a better future.
President Mnangagwa said achieving Vision 2030 required young people to be development-oriented, disciplined, patriotic and loyal to Zimbabwe.
“The youth must be development oriented and disciplined as well as, patriotic and loyal to our motherland Zimbabwe,” he said, commending young Zimbabweans for making progress across various sectors.
He said Munhumutapa Day was an opportunity to draw lessons from the country’s pre-colonial history and use them to shape Zimbabwe’s future.
President Mnangagwa described the Munhumutapa Empire as a symbol of a sophisticated pre-colonial society that possessed strong organisational systems, economic agility, architectural capabilities and cultural depth.
“The Munhumutapa Empire remains a great symbol of a sophisticated pre-colonial people, with unmatched organisational systems, astute economic agility, architectural prowess and cultural depth,” he said.
According to President Mnangagwa, the empire’s extensive commercial networks and exploitation of gold and copper for trade demonstrated the capacity of indigenous African societies to develop strong economies long before colonial rule.
He said the historical experience provided lessons for Zimbabwe’s contemporary efforts to promote regional integration and intra-African trade.
“The quest for regional integration, intra-Africa trade, can today draw from that rich past,” President Mnangagwa said.
He said the Munhumutapa Kingdom was built on courage, innovation, hard work and self-determination, values which he urged young Zimbabweans to embrace.
The President said the decision by Government to declare September 15 Munhumutapa Day and a public holiday was intended to honour and preserve Zimbabwe’s history and cultural inheritance.
“It is, therefore, in honour of this background, and for the immortalisation of our rich history and cultural inheritance that my Government resolved to declare 15th September as Munhumutapa Day and a public holiday,” he said.
President Mnangagwa challenged young people to take responsibility for advancing the legacy of their forebears while contributing to national development.
“I challenge you, the youth of today, to always act in our national interest, defending the Party and our country,” he said.
He said his administration would continue creating an environment that enables young people to participate in both governance and the national economy.
“On its part, my Government will continue to create a conducive environment for youth participation in the governance and economy of our country,” he said.
Youth urged to drive agriculture and industrialisation
President Mnangagwa identified agriculture as one of the sectors in which young people could play a major role in transforming the economy and strengthening national food security.
He pointed to the Presidential Heifer Pass-on and Farm Mechanisation Schemes and the Youth Agriculture Plots Programme as initiatives that were enabling young people to participate in agriculture.
“I urge more of you to now participate in the agriculture value chains and agro-industries,” he said.
The President urged young people to go beyond primary production by using technology to process agricultural produce into finished products.
“You must fully utilise new and affordable technologies to make processed products from what is grown on the land,” he said.
He also encouraged young people to embrace emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and use their skills to support national development.
“Leverage emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, and deploy your talents and skills towards nation building,” President Mnangagwa said.
He urged the youth not to fear failure as they pursue new ideas and businesses.
“You must be brave, adventurous and courageous enough to make mistakes and errors, in your journey to break new grounds,” he said.
Housing and empowerment
President Mnangagwa said Government was also expanding opportunities for young people to acquire homes and establish businesses.
He cited the Munhumutapa Housing Scheme as an initiative opening opportunities for young Zimbabweans to own homes, while the Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund was supporting youth enterprises.
“The Munhumutapa Housing Scheme is opening opportunities for young people to own homes,” he said.
He commended local authorities for availing land for housing projects and said young people were increasingly making their mark in mining, manufacturing and tourism.
“The Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund, is enabling youth to set up and grow their enterprises, fostering wealth creation and economic inclusion,” he said.
President Mnangagwa assured young people that Government would continue expanding empowerment programmes and opportunities.
“I want to assure you that the ZANU PF-led Government, will continue to expand empowerment programmes and opportunities for young people,” he said.
He said his broader ambition was to see Zimbabweans empowered to the extent that wealth and prosperity became widespread.
“My wish is to see the broad empowerment and prosperity of our people so that we get to a point where the question is no longer, ‘why a person has money’; but why one has no money,” President Mnangagwa said.
However, he stressed that wealth creation must be based on legitimate and honest work, warning against corruption.
“A prosperous life for all, is possible through hard honest work, discipline and focus,” he said.
Zimbabwe seeks wider international economic opportunities
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s historical trading links under the Munhumutapa Empire also provided lessons for the country’s current international economic engagement.
He said Zimbabwe would continue pursuing partnerships and markets that advance national development, guided by the Second Republic’s foreign policy principle that the country is “a friend to all and enemy to none.”
He noted that Zimbabwe would assume the COMESA Chairmanship in October and would take up a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027/2028 period.
“New markets, investments, exchanges, innovative partnerships and entrepreneurship prospects presented by these platforms must be pursued for the benefit of our economy,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also urged young people to strengthen relationships with youth organisations across Africa and the wider international community while promoting Pan-Africanism, self-determination and solidarity.
At the same time, he challenged young Zimbabweans to reject corruption, tribalism, regionalism and other tendencies that could divide the country.
Strong warning against drugs and crime
The President used the occasion to issue a strong warning against drug and substance abuse among young people.
He said Zimbabwe’s liberation fighters did not sacrifice their lives for future generations to destroy their potential through drugs.
“Our forefathers, along with those that fought in the armed liberation struggle did not endure hardships and sacrifice life and limbs for you, today, to surrender your precious lives to drugs and substance abuse. No!” President Mnangagwa said.
He called on young people to reject drugs and substance abuse and instead pursue productive work, education and skills development.
“I urge you, the young people of Zimbabwe, to also reject crime and violence. Be respectful, exemplary and disciplined, always seek productive work, education and skills to develop yourselves as well as the communities you live,” he said.
He encouraged young people to participate in community work and to become positive examples in their communities.
Safeguarding independence and national unity
President Mnangagwa further challenged the youth to remain vigilant in protecting Zimbabwe’s independence, sovereignty, freedom, democracy, unity and peace.
“I also challenge the young people of Zimbabwe, to remain vigilant, safeguarding our hard-won Independence, sovereignty, freedom, democracy, unity and peace. Forward ever, backward never,” he said.
He commended the ZANU PF Youth League, Mashonaland Central leadership, other provinces and stakeholders for organising the commemorations.
Reflecting on the province’s history during the liberation struggle, President Mnangagwa said communities in Mashonaland Central had endured displacement, killings and other atrocities under the colonial regime.
He said their resilience and commitment to the liberation struggle remained a source of inspiration.
President Mnangagwa urged young people returning to their communities to carry with them messages of unity, peace, hard work, production, productivity and development.
“To all the young people who are here, as you go back home to your districts and wards, please carry the message of unity, peace, hard work, production and productivity as well as development,” he said.
He said Zimbabwe’s future depended on young people who were prepared to work hard, innovate and make the most of the independence secured through the sacrifices of previous generations.
“Work hard, in freedom; be bold, courageous, innovative and strive to be the best you can be, in our free and independent Zimbabwe, which was paid for by the precious blood of sons and daughters of the soil,” President Mnangagwa said.
He concluded by saying Zimbabwe’s prosperity and improved quality of life would be the strongest tribute to those who sacrificed for the country.
“Our success, prosperity and a higher quality of life for all, is the best way we can honour those who have gone ahead of us,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also assured young people that they would continue to receive support from his administration.
“Be assured that under the Second Republic led-by our Party, ZANU PF, the young people will always have support and backing of my Administration,” he said.
The Munhumutapa Day commemorations were held in Mashonaland Central Province on September 15, 2026, with the day marking Zimbabwe’s recognition of the country’s pre-colonial Munhumutapa heritage and history.